Effect of Triparanol on Synthesis of Fatty Acids by Tetrahymena pyriformis ∗

Summary

Triparanol suppressed the synthesis of total lipids in 3 strains of Tetrahymena pyriformis. Strain differences were noted when triparanol inhibition was reversed with oleic acid or by prolonged incubation. Supplements of short-chained carboxylic acids influenced the effect of triparanol on the total lipids, the percentage composition of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and the specific fatty acids synthesized. There was an increase in the content of odd-numbered and branched-chain saturated fatty acids synthesized with triparanol plus pro-pionate or a-methyl-n-butyrate supplements, and an increase in the percentage of oleic acid synthesized with triparanol plus acetate supplements. Triparanol may act by inhibiting the ability of T. pyriformis to demethylate and to dehydrogenate saturated fatty acids in formation of unsaturated fatty acids.